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Michael Mcdermott | Last Chance Lounge

R-O-C-K in capital letters.
CD, Koch/Roadrunner

Tekst: Markus Rill

Publicatiedatum: 12 februari 2001

I hate to admit it, but I needed a good kick in the butt. The records that had moved me most last year were acoustic records by Todd Snider, John Hiatt, and Johnny Cash. Good rock'n'roll just did not seem to exist.
Well, Michael McDermott came to my rescue. He is able to R-O-C-K in capital letters without resorting to cliches and worn out poses. Wordy, poetic rock, if you can imagine such a thing in the new millennium. His lyrics are epic tales, big on wordplay, and simple faith in the power of storytelling. You can tell he's firmly rooted in folk music, but at the same time he just loves the thrill of loud electric guitars and big drums. It's no surprise he gets compared to Dylan and Springsteen a whole lot. Think 'Blonde On Blonde'-storytelling meets 'Greeting From Asbury Park'-kind of energy. But for all the respect McDermott holds for his elders, he's still his own man. The exuberance of 'Unemployed' is not a result of imitation; the insight he gains by reflecting on 'Annie and the Aztec Cross' is personal and original. If we lived in better times, 'Murder on Her Lips' would move millions just like 'Just Like A woman' once did...
And sound-wise, McDermott's fifth outing manages to surprise. Most rock records these days sound either tired and dated or too gimmicky-modern. 'Last Chance Lounge' is an intelligent, moving, exciting, and thoughtful rock'n'roll record for the new century.
PS: Alt.country it's not. But just because there are no steel guitars doesn't mean it won't get to you. After all, you get all that's drawn you to alt.country in the first place: top-quality songs and performances and real storytelling.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/michael-mcdermott/last-chance-lounge/100/
Meer Michael Mcdermott op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/michael-mcdermott